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{{Short description|Wrestler from British India (1878–1960)}}
{{Short description|Wrestler from British India}}
{{for|Portuguese explorer|Vasco da Gama}}
{{For|Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s|Gama Singh}}
{{For|Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s|Gama Singh}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}  
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}  
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Gama Pehlwan
| name        = The Great Gama
| image        = Gama1916.jpg
| image        = Gama1916.jpg
| birth_name  = Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref name="thenews">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan|title=The Great Gama Pahelwan &#124; Sports &#124; thenews.com.pk|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}</ref>
| birth_name  = {{smaller|Ghulam Mohammed Baksh Butt}}<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan|title=The Great Gama Pahelwan|website=thenews.com.pk}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1878|5|22|df=yes}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1878|5|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = [[Jabbowal]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] <br /> {{smaller|(now in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India)}}<ref name="Lentz">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'7", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html |work=[[India Times]] |date=16 May 2017|quote=Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday">{{cite news |title=The Great Gama and Lahore |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/05/the-great-gama-and-lahore/ |work=[[Pakistan Today]] |date=5 January 2018|quote=Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in  Amritsar on May 22, 1878.}}</ref>
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1960|5|23|1878|5|22|df=yes}}<ref>Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore</ref>
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1960|5|23|1878|5|22|df=yes}}<ref>Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore</ref>
| birth_place = [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar district|Amritsar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]<ref name="Lentz">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'7", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html |work=[[India Times]] |date=16 May 2017|quote=Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday">{{cite news |title=The Great Gama and Lahore |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/05/the-great-gama-and-lahore/ |work=[[Pakistan Today]] |date=5 January 2018|quote=Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in a Kashmiri family in Amritsar on May 22 1878.}}</ref> <br />(present-day [[Kapurthala District|Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])
| death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan
| death_place  = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| family      = [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan]] (brother)<br/>[[Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif]] (granddaughter)<br>[[Maryam Nawaz]] (great-granddaughter)
| family      = [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan]] (brother)<br/>[[Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif]] (granddaughter)
| names        = Gama Pahalwan
| names        = Gama Pahalwan
| height      = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="bio1"/>
| height      = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="bio1"/>
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| retired      =  
| retired      =  
}}
}}
'''Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref name="thenews"/>''' (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known as '''''Rustam-e-Hind''''' ([[Hindi-Urdu]] for ''[[Rostam]] of [[Names_for_India#Hind_/_Hindustān|Hindostan]]'') and by the [[ring name]] '''The Great Gama''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Garg |first1=Chitra |title=Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons |date=2010 |publisher=Rajpal & Sons |isbn=978-81-7028-852-7 |page=352 |quote=He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'}}</ref> was a [[pehlwani]] wrestler and [[strongman]] in [[British India]]. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of India .<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Thomas A. |title=Martial Arts of the World: A-Q |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-150-2 |page=721 |quote=An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tadié |first1=Alexis |last2=Mangan |first2=J. A. |last3=Chaudhuri |first3=Supriya |title=Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-92024-2 |page=41 |quote=In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or ''kushti'' - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their ''akhadas'' and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama – the 'lion of Punjab' – arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.}}</ref>
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}
 
'''Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt''' (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known by the title '''Rustam-e-Hind'''{{efn|name=trans|{{lit|[[Rustam]] of [[Names for India#Hind / Hindustan|Hind]]}}, {{Translation|Champion of India}}.}} and by the [[ring name]] '''The Great Gama''',{{efn|Or Gama [[Pehlwani|Pehelwan]].}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Garg |first1=Chitra |title=Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons |date=2010 |publisher=Rajpal & Sons |isbn=978-81-7028-852-7 |page=352 |quote=He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'}}</ref> was a [[Kashmiris|Kashmiri]] Muslim,<ref>{{cite web |title=A Forgotten Wrestling Legend: Perhaps The Greatest of Them All |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/124884-a-forgotten-legend-perhaps-the-greatest-of-them-all |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |date=16 February 2009 |quote=Great Gama, or Ghulam Muhammad, was a Kashmiri Muslim professional wrestler from the undivided India, who was a practitioner of what is known as “Pehlwani” wrestling in south asian countries like India and Pakistan.}}</ref>  [[pehlwani]] wrestler and [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] in [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]] and later, [[Pakistan]]. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of British India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Thomas A. |title=Martial Arts of the World: A-Q |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-150-2 |page=721 |quote=An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tadié |first1=Alexis |last2=Mangan |first2=J. A. |last3=Chaudhuri |first3=Supriya |title=Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-92024-2 |page=41 |quote=In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or ''kushti'' - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their ''akhadas'' and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama - the 'lion of Punjab' - arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.}}</ref>
 
He was born in the Kashmiri Butt caste in [[Jabbowal]] village ([[Amritsar District]]) in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of British India in 1878,<ref name="Lentz"/><ref>{{cite web |title=A Forgotten Wrestling Legend: Perhaps The Greatest of Them All |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/124884-a-forgotten-legend-perhaps-the-greatest-of-them-all |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |date=16 February 2009 |quote=Great Gama, or Ghulam Muhammad, was a Kashmiri Muslim professional wrestler from the undivided India, who was a practitioner of what is known as “Pehlwani” wrestling in south asian countries like India and Pakistan.}}</ref> Gama was awarded a version of the [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=The culture and crisis of kushti|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/the-culture-and-crisis-of-kushti/article5297790.ece?homepage=true|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2013|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> After the [[partition of India]], Gama migrated to Pakistan, where he died in the city of [[Lahore]] on 23 May 1960.<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="toi1">{{cite news|last1=Banerjee|first1=Sarnath|author-link1=Sarnath Banerjee|title=Gamanamah: The story of a strongman|url=http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|access-date=11 July 2017|work=The Times of India|date=10 March 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131014144633/http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hornbaker|first1=Tim|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|date=2017|publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]]|isbn=9781613218754|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>
[[File:The Indian Wrestler Gama.jpg|thumb|c. 1910]]


Born in the village of [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar District]] in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of British India in 1878,<ref name="Lentz"/> Baksh was awarded a version of the [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest Indian wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=The culture and crisis of kushti|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/the-culture-and-crisis-of-kushti/article5297790.ece?homepage=true|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2013|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> After the [[partition of India|partition of British India]], into the [[Dominion of India]] and the [[Dominion of Pakistan]] in August 1947, Gama migrated to Pakistan, where he died in the city of [[Lahore]] on 23 May 1960.<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="toi1">{{cite news|last1=Banerjee|first1=Sarnath|author-link1=Sarnath Banerjee|title=Gamanamah: The story of a strongman|url=http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|access-date=11 July 2017|work=The Times of India|date=10 March 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131014144633/http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hornbaker|first1=Tim|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|date=2017|publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]]|isbn=978-1613218754|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>
The prominent members of Great Gama Family include [[Zubair Jhara Pehalwan|Jahara Pehlwan]], [[Nasir Bholu]], Sohail Pehlwan, Abid Pehlwan, [[Kulsoom Nawaz|Kalsoom Nawaz]], [[Bilal Yasin]] (Ex-Federal Minister), Ibraz Butt (Youth Parliamentarian, Secretary of Information) <ref>{{cite web|title=YP135-NA-135 Lahore-XIII Ibraz Ajmal Butt |website=Youth Parliament|url=https://yp17.youthparliament.pk/yp135/|access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref> and Moazzam Zubair (son of Jahara).


==Early life==
==Early life==
[[File:Squat, baithak, Hindu squat, possibly 'The Great Gamma'.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Squat (exercise)#Bodyweight|baithak]]]]
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt was born on 22 May 1878 in [[Jabbowal]], a village in the [[Amritsar district]] of the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of [[British India]] (now in the [[Kapurthala district]] of [[Punjab, India]]) into a [[Kashmiri Muslim]] family of traditional wrestlers, who had long [[Kashmiris in Punjab|settled]] in the [[Punjab]] region.<ref name="bio1">{{cite book|last1=Lentz III|first1=Harris M.|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|date=2003|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|edition=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|access-date=11 July 2017|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" /><ref name="dt"/> Gama had two wives: one in Punjab and the other in [[Vadodara|Baroda, Gujarat]].{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
[[File:Dand, Dund, Hindu push-up.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Push-up#Hindu push-up|dand]]]]
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh was born on 22 May 1878 in [[Jabbowal|Jabbowal Village]], [[Amritsar district]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]] (now [[Jabbowal]], [[Kapurthala District]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]]) into a [[Kashmiri Muslim]] family of wrestlers.<ref name="bio1">{{cite book|last1=Lentz III|first1=Harris M.|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|date=2003|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|edition=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|access-date=11 July 2017|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" />  


He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] competition held in [[Jodhpur]], which included many gruelling exercises such as squats.<ref name="HT">{{cite web |title=Google Doodle celebrates India's Gama Pehlwan, the undefeated wrestling champion |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-india-s-gama-pehlwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-101653180853982.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |date=22 May 2022}}</ref> The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sen|first1=Ronojoy|title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India|date=2015|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=978-0231539937|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5mACgAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of [[Datia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/26954-the-great-gama-story-of-the-greatest-pehelwan-to-ever-walk-on-indian-soil.html|title=The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil|last=Prasher|first=Shantanu|newspaper=www.mensxp.com|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref>
He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] competition held in [[Jodhpur]], which included many gruelling exercises such as squats.<ref name="HT">{{cite web |title=Google Doodle celebrates India's Gama Pehlwan, the undefeated wrestling champion |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-india-s-gama-pehlwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-101653180853982.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |date=22 May 2022}}</ref> The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sen|first1=Ronojoy|title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India|date=2015|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=978-0231539937|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5mACgAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of [[Datia]] a princely state in [[Bundelkhand]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/26954-the-great-gama-story-of-the-greatest-pehelwan-to-ever-walk-on-indian-soil.html|title=The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil|last=Prasher|first=Shantanu|newspaper=www.mensxp.com|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> As per the tradition, he was subjected to a rigorous training regime which included throusands of [[Hindu push-up]]s and [[Hindu squat]]s everyday.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shannon|first=Jake|title=Say Uncle! Catch-as-catch-can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling, & Modern Grappling|url=https://archive.org/details/sayunclecatchasc0000jake|year=2011|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=9781550229615|page=25}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
[[File:Squat, baithak, Hindu squat, possibly 'The Great Gamma'.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Squat (exercise)#Body-weight|baithak]]]]
[[File:Dand, Dund, Hindu push-up.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Push-up#Hindu push-up|dand]]]]
===First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala===
===First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala===
In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion, middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[Colonial India]] (now in Pakistan).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hong |first1=Fan |last2=Zhouxiang |first2=Lu |title=The Routledge Handbook of Sport in Asia |date=20 May 2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-59027-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHjnDwAAQBAJ&dq=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22&pg=PT185 |language=en}}</ref> At about {{convert|7|ft}} tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the {{convert|5|ft|7|in|adj=on}} Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.<ref name="baksh">{{cite news |title=Gama Pehlwan: 144th Birth Anniversary of Gama Pehlwan 2022 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-gama-pehalwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-2997919 |work=NDTV |language=en-IN}}</ref> The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the ''Indian Wrestling Championship''. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout he went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.<ref name="baksh"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Alter |first1=Joseph S. |title=The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India |date=3 August 1992 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91217-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22+%22biddu%22 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged the then Rustam-e-Hind,{{efn|name=trans}} middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from [[Gujranwala]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hong |first1=Fan |last2=Zhouxiang |first2=Lu |title=The Routledge Handbook of Sport in Asia |date=20 May 2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-59027-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHjnDwAAQBAJ&dq=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22&pg=PT185 |language=en}}</ref> At about {{convert|7|ft}} tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the {{convert|5|ft|7|in|adj=on}} Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.<ref name="baksh">{{cite news |title=Gama Pehlwan: 144th Birth Anniversary of Gama Pehlwan 2022 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-gama-pehalwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-2997919 |work=NDTV |language=en-IN}}</ref> The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the ''Indian Wrestling Championship''. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout he went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.<ref name="baksh"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Alter |first1=Joseph S. |title=The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India |date=3 August 1992 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91217-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22+%22biddu%22 |language=en}}</ref>


By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except Raheem. At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan|Imam Bakhsh]], Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.<ref name=alter>{{cite book|last=Alter|first=Joseph S.|title=The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=978-0520912175|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C}}</ref>
By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except the champion, Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala. At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan|Imam Bakhsh]], Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.<ref name=alter>{{cite book|last=Alter|first=Joseph S.|title=The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=978-0520912175|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C}}</ref>


===Tournament in London===
===Tournament in London===
In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers in thirty minutes of any weight class. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.<ref name="toi1"/> For a long time no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]] and [[Frank Gotch]], either he would beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American [[Ben Roller|Benjamin Roller]]. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to the official tournament.<ref name=alter/>
In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers of any weight class in thirty minutes. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.<ref name="toi1"/> For a long time, no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]] and [[Frank Gotch]], that he would either beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American [[Ben Roller|Benjamin Roller]]. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to the official tournament.<ref name=alter/>


===Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko===
===Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko===
He was pitted against world champion [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]]<ref name=alter/> and the bout was set for 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on 10 September 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the [[John Bull]] World Championships in London.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Svinth |first1=Joseph |title=Martial Arts in the Modern World |date=2003 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-98153-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CayyJJg0KIsC&dq=Zbyszko+gama&pg=PA104 |language=en}}</ref> The match was worth £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Through this defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why the Great Gama is counted among the greatest wrestlers of all time |url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-the-great-gama-is-counted-among-the-greatest-wrestlers-of-all-time-57489 |website=trtworld |language=en}}</ref>
He was pitted against world champion [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]]<ref name=alter/> and the bout was set for 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on 10 September 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the [[John Bull]] World Championships in London.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Svinth |first1=Joseph |title=Martial Arts in the Modern World |date=2003 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-98153-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CayyJJg0KIsC&dq=Zbyszko+gama&pg=PA104 |language=en}}</ref> The match was worth £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Through this defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why the Great Gama is counted among the greatest wrestlers of all time |url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-the-great-gama-is-counted-among-the-greatest-wrestlers-of-all-time-57489 |website=trtworld |language=en}}</ref>


Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on 17 September 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The 'John Bull& Wrestling belt won by an Indian|date=17 September 1910|work=The Derby Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called ''[[Rustam-e-Zamana]]'' or [[World Champion]] but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.
Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on 17 September 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.<ref name="Bull1">{{Cite news|title=The 'John Bull' Wrestling belt won by an Indian|date=17 September 1910|work=The Derby Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="Bull2">{{cite web |title=Derby Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1910-09-17?NewspaperTitle=Derby%2BDaily%2BTelegraph&IssueId=BL%2F0000327%2F19100917%2F&County=Derbyshire%2C%20England |access-date=6 January 2026}}</ref> He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called ''[[Rustam-e-Zaman]]'' or [[World Champion]] but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.


===Bouts against American and European champions===
===Bouts against American and European champions===
During this tour Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" [[Benjamin Roller]] of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese [[Judo]] champion [[Taro Miyake]], [[George Hackenschmidt]] of Russia and [[Frank Gotch]] of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
During this tour, Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" [[Benjamin Roller]] of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese [[Judo]] champion [[Taro Miyake]], [[George Hackenschmidt]] of Russia and [[Frank Gotch]] of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}


===Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala===
===Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala===
Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in [[Allahabad]]. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".<ref name="raheembaksh2">{{cite book |last1=Hornbaker |first1=Tim |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |date=July 2012 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |isbn=978-1-61321-075-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4yNrCgAAQBAJ&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22 |language=en}}</ref>
Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in [[Allahabad]]. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".<ref name="raheembaksh2">{{cite book |last1=Hornbaker |first1=Tim |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |date=July 2012 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |isbn=978-1-61321-075-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4yNrCgAAQBAJ&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22 |language=en}}</ref>


===Rematch with Zbyszko===
===Rematch with Zbyszko===
 
After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu, who was one of the best wrestlers in India of that time (1916), and beat him.<ref>{{cite book |title=A problem to wrestle with |publisher=The Indian Express |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xIJlAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Gama%22+%22pandit%22&pg=PA23&article_id=156,2990938 |language=en}}</ref>
After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu,<ref>{{cite book |title=A problem to wrestle with |publisher=The Indian Express |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xIJlAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Gama%22+%22pandit%22&pg=PA23&article_id=156,2990938 |language=en}}</ref> who was one of the best wrestlers in [[India]] of that time (1916), and beat him.


In 1922, during a visit to India, the [[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]] presented Gama with a silver [[Ceremonial mace|mace]].
In 1922, during a visit to India, the [[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]] presented Gama with a silver [[Ceremonial mace|mace]].
Line 65: Line 66:
At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.<ref name="toi1"/>
At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.<ref name="toi1"/>


After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
===Fight with Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav===
After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.[citation needed] In the 1940s he was invited by the Nizam of Hyderabad and defeated all his fighters. The Nizam then sent him to face the wrestler Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav(THE LION FROM HYDERABAD), who was never defeated in his life.The fight was very long, Gama was unable to defeat Heeraman and eventually neither wrestler won. After the independence and partitioning of India in 1947, Gama moved to Pakistan. Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. After his retirement he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}


==Final years==
==Final years==
After the [[partition of India]] in 1947, Gama moved to [[Pakistan]]. During the Hindu-Muslim riots that broke out at the time of partition, Gama (a Muslim) saved hundreds of [[Hindus]] from mobs in [[Lahore]].<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" /> Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt — The Great Gama Pehalwan |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/940790/ghulam-mohammad-baksh-butt-the-great-gama-pehalwan/ |work=Daily Times |date=25 May 2022}}</ref>
After the [[partition of India]] in 1947, Gama moved to [[Pakistan]]. During the Hindu–Muslim riots that broke out at the time of partition, Gama saved hundreds of Hindus from Muslim mob in [[Lahore]].<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" /> Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.<ref name="dt">{{cite news |title=Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt — The Great Gama Pehalwan |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/940790/ghulam-mohammad-baksh-butt-the-great-gama-pehalwan/ |work=Daily Times |date=25 May 2022}}</ref>


His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".<ref name="thenews"/> Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html|title = Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref> He died in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.
His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".<ref name="thenews">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan|title=The Great Gama Pahelwan &#124; Sports &#124; thenews.com.pk|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}</ref> Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html|title = Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref> He died in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.


[[Kulsoom Nawaz]], politician and wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]], was the granddaughter of Gama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jajja |first1=Sumaira |title=WRESTLING: The Warrior's Soul |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324342|work=Dawn| location=Pakistan |date=2 April 2017}}</ref>  
[[Kulsoom Nawaz]], politician and wife of Pakistani prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]], was the granddaughter of Gama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jajja |first1=Sumaira |title=WRESTLING: The Warrior's Soul |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324342|work=Dawn| location=Pakistan |date=2 April 2017}}</ref>
[[File:The Great Gama - Title page of the book.jpg|thumb|The Great Gama – Title page of the book]]


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Gama fought and<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/ghulam-muhammad#:~:text=Born%20in%201882%20in%20Armistar,wrestling%20in%20over%205%2C000%20matches.|title = Ghulam Muhammad}}</ref> won over five thousand matches.<ref name="thenews"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|title = Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed|year=2003|isbn = 978-0786417544}}</ref> [[Bruce Lee]] was an avid follower of Gama's training routine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/happy-birthday-the-great-gama-mc23-nu901-ta901-ta321-1161342-1.html|title = The Great Gama victory journey, even Bruce Lee was a fan of him|date = 22 May 2021}}</ref> Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "[[Push-up#Hindu push-up|the cat stretch]]", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").<ref>Little, John, ''Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body'' (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58</ref>
[[File:The Great Gama - Title page of the book.jpg|thumb|The Great Gama – Title page of the book]]
Gama fought and won over five thousand matches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/ghulam-muhammad|title = Ghulam Muhammad}}</ref><ref name="thenews"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|title = Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed|year=2003|isbn = 978-0786417544}}</ref> [[Bruce Lee]] was an avid follower of Gama's training routine. Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "[[Push-up#Hindu push-up|the cat stretch]]", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").<ref>Little, John, ''Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body'' (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58</ref>


Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100&nbsp;kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the [[National Institute of Sports]] (NIS) Museum at [[Patiala, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune – Windows – Featured story|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011124/windows/main5.htm|access-date=22 May 2022|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>
Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100&nbsp;kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the [[National Institute of Sports]] (NIS) Museum at [[Patiala, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune – Windows – Featured story|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011124/windows/main5.htm|access-date=22 May 2022|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>


On 22 May 2022, search engine [[Google Search|Google]] commemorated Gama with a [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] on his 144th birth anniversary.<ref name="Gama Pehlwan on Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle |website=9to5Google.com |date=21 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/9to5google.com/2022/05/21/gama-pehlwan-google-doodle/amp/ |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> Google commented: ''"Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"<ref name="Gama Pehlwan's Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday |date=22 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/doodles/gama-pehlwans-144th-birthday |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>''
On 22 May 2022, search engine [[Google Search|Google]] commemorated Gama with a [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] on his 144th birth anniversary.<ref name="Gama Pehlwan on Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle |website=[[9to5Google]] |date=21 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/9to5google.com/2022/05/21/gama-pehlwan-google-doodle/amp/ |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> Google commented: "Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"<ref name="Gama Pehlwan's Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday |date=22 May 2022 |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/gama-pehlwans-144th-birthday/ |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
Line 86: Line 88:
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2022 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame|website=IPWHF}}</ref>
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2022 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame|website=IPWHF}}</ref>
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|title=Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction|last=Johnson|first=Steve|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|date=14 July 2007|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>
** Class of 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724081743/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2017|title=Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction|last=Johnson|first=Steve|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|date=14 July 2007|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
** Class of 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/11/26/22096551.html|title=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=26 November 2014|access-date=2 July 2016|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
** Class of 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/11/26/22096551.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141130063650/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/11/26/22096551.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 November 2014|title=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=26 November 2014|access-date=2 July 2016|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
*'''Other'''
** [[John Bull]] World Championship<ref name="Bull1"/><ref name="Bull2"/>
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:People associated with physical culture]]
[[Category:People associated with physical culture]]
[[Category:People from Datia]]
[[Category:People from Datia]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]
[[Category:People from Bundelkhand]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Indian male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Indian male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Indian bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Indian bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Kashmiri descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Pakistani professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Pakistani bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Pakistani bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Pakistani Muslims]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lahore]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lahore]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from British India]]
[[Category:People from Kapurthala district]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Pakistan]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]

Latest revision as of 00:37, 24 February 2026


For Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s, see Gama Singh.

The Great Gama
Birth nameGhulam Mohammed Baksh Butt[1]
Born(1878-05-22)22 May 1878
Jabbowal, Punjab, British India
(now in Punjab, India)[2][3][4]
Died23 May 1960(1960-05-23) (aged 82)[5]
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
FamilyImam Baksh Pahalwan (brother)
Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif (granddaughter)
Maryam Nawaz (great-granddaughter)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gama Pahalwan
Billed height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[6]
Billed weight250 lb (110 kg)[6]

Template:Professional wrestling sidebar

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known by the title Rustam-e-Hind[lower-alpha 1] and by the ring name The Great Gama,[lower-alpha 2][7] was a Kashmiri Muslim,[8] pehlwani wrestler and strongman in British India and later, Pakistan. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of British India.[9][10]

He was born in the Kashmiri Butt caste in Jabbowal village (Amritsar District) in the Punjab Province of British India in 1878,[2][11] Gama was awarded a version of the World Heavyweight Championship on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.[12] After the partition of India, Gama migrated to Pakistan, where he died in the city of Lahore on 23 May 1960.[3][13][14]

c. 1910

The prominent members of Great Gama Family include Jahara Pehlwan, Nasir Bholu, Sohail Pehlwan, Abid Pehlwan, Kalsoom Nawaz, Bilal Yasin (Ex-Federal Minister), Ibraz Butt (Youth Parliamentarian, Secretary of Information) [15] and Moazzam Zubair (son of Jahara).

Early life[edit | edit source]

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt was born on 22 May 1878 in Jabbowal, a village in the Amritsar district of the Punjab Province of British India (now in the Kapurthala district of Punjab, India) into a Kashmiri Muslim family of traditional wrestlers, who had long settled in the Punjab region.[6][3][4][16] Gama had two wives: one in Punjab and the other in Baroda, Gujarat.[citation needed]

He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a strongman competition held in Jodhpur, which included many gruelling exercises such as squats.[17] The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.[18] Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of Datia a princely state in Bundelkhand.[19] As per the tradition, he was subjected to a rigorous training regime which included throusands of Hindu push-ups and Hindu squats everyday.[20]

Career[edit | edit source]

Gama performing a baithak
Error creating thumbnail: File with dimensions greater than 12.5 MP
Gama performing a dand

First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala[edit | edit source]

In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged the then Rustam-e-Hind,[lower-alpha 1] middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from Gujranwala.[21] At about 7 feet (2.1 m) tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the 5-foot-7-inch (1.70 m) Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.[22] The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of Rustam-e-Hind or the Indian Wrestling Championship. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout he went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.[22][23]

By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except the champion, Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala. At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother Imam Bakhsh, Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.[24]

Tournament in London[edit | edit source]

In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers of any weight class in thirty minutes. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.[13] For a long time, no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged Stanislaus Zbyszko and Frank Gotch, that he would either beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American Benjamin Roller. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to the official tournament.[24]

Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko[edit | edit source]

He was pitted against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko[24] and the bout was set for 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on 10 September 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the John Bull World Championships in London.[25] The match was worth £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Through this defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance.[26]

Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on 17 September 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.[27][28] He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called Rustam-e-Zaman or World Champion but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.

Bouts against American and European champions[edit | edit source]

During this tour, Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" Benjamin Roller of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.[citation needed] Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese Judo champion Taro Miyake, George Hackenschmidt of Russia and Frank Gotch of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.[citation needed]

Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala[edit | edit source]

Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in Allahabad. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of Rustam-e-Hind or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".[29]

Rematch with Zbyszko[edit | edit source]

After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu, who was one of the best wrestlers in India of that time (1916), and beat him.[30]

In 1922, during a visit to India, the Prince of Wales presented Gama with a silver mace.

Gama did not have any opponents until 1927, when it was announced that Gama and Zbyszko would face each other again. They met in Patiala in January 1928.[31] Entering the bout, Zbyszko "showed a strong build of body and muscle" and Gama, it was reported "looked much thinner than usual".[32] However, he managed to overpower the former easily and won the bout inside a minute, winning the Indian version of the lineal World Wrestling Championship. Following the bout, Zbyszko praised him, calling him a "tiger".[33]

At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.[13]

Fight with Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav[edit | edit source]

After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.[citation needed] In the 1940s he was invited by the Nizam of Hyderabad and defeated all his fighters. The Nizam then sent him to face the wrestler Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav(THE LION FROM HYDERABAD), who was never defeated in his life.The fight was very long, Gama was unable to defeat Heeraman and eventually neither wrestler won. After the independence and partitioning of India in 1947, Gama moved to Pakistan. Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. After his retirement he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.[citation needed]

Final years[edit | edit source]

After the partition of India in 1947, Gama moved to Pakistan. During the Hindu–Muslim riots that broke out at the time of partition, Gama saved hundreds of Hindus from Muslim mob in Lahore.[3][4] Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.[16]

His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".[34] Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.[35] He died in Lahore, Pakistan on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.

Kulsoom Nawaz, politician and wife of Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was the granddaughter of Gama.[36]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The Great Gama – Title page of the book

Gama fought and won over five thousand matches.[37][34][38] Bruce Lee was an avid follower of Gama's training routine. Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "the cat stretch", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").[39]

Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100 kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Museum at Patiala, India.[40]

On 22 May 2022, search engine Google commemorated Gama with a Doodle on his 144th birth anniversary.[41] Google commented: "Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"[42]

Championships and accomplishments[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 lit. 'Rustam of Hind', transl. Champion of India.
  2. ↑ Or Gama Pehelwan.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "The Great Gama Pahelwan". thenews.com.pk.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harris M. Lentz III (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 118. ISBN 978-0786417544. Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'7", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots". India Times. 16 May 2017. Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The Great Gama and Lahore". Pakistan Today. 5 January 2018. Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in Amritsar on May 22, 1878.
  5. ↑ Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lentz III, Harris M. (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2 ed.). McFarland. p. 118. ISBN 978-0786417544. Retrieved 11 July 2017. Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.
  7. ↑ Garg, Chitra (2010). Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons. Rajpal & Sons. p. 352. ISBN 978-81-7028-852-7. He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'
  8. ↑ "A Forgotten Wrestling Legend: Perhaps The Greatest of Them All". Bleacher Report. 16 February 2009. Great Gama, or Ghulam Muhammad, was a Kashmiri Muslim professional wrestler from the undivided India, who was a practitioner of what is known as "Pehlwani" wrestling in south asian countries like India and Pakistan.
  9. ↑ Green, Thomas A. (2001). Martial Arts of the World: A-Q. ABC-CLIO. p. 721. ISBN 978-1-57607-150-2. An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).
  10. ↑ Tadié, Alexis; Mangan, J. A.; Chaudhuri, Supriya (2016). Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies. Routledge. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-134-92024-2. In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or kushti - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their akhadas and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama - the 'lion of Punjab' - arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.
  11. ↑ "A Forgotten Wrestling Legend: Perhaps The Greatest of Them All". Bleacher Report. 16 February 2009. Great Gama, or Ghulam Muhammad, was a Kashmiri Muslim professional wrestler from the undivided India, who was a practitioner of what is known as "Pehlwani" wrestling in south asian countries like India and Pakistan.
  12. ↑ "The culture and crisis of kushti". The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Banerjee, Sarnath (10 March 2012). "Gamanamah: The story of a strongman". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 July 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (2017). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781613218754. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "YP135-NA-135 Lahore-XIII Ibraz Ajmal Butt". Youth Parliament. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt — The Great Gama Pehalwan". Daily Times. 25 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Google Doodle celebrates India's Gama Pehlwan, the undefeated wrestling champion". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2022.
  18. ↑ Sen, Ronojoy (2015). Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India. Columbia University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0231539937. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  19. ↑ Prasher, Shantanu. "The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil". www.mensxp.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Shannon, Jake (2011). Say Uncle! Catch-as-catch-can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling, & Modern Grappling. ECW Press. p. 25. ISBN 9781550229615.
  21. ↑ Hong, Fan; Zhouxiang, Lu (20 May 2020). The Routledge Handbook of Sport in Asia. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-59027-6.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Gama Pehlwan: 144th Birth Anniversary of Gama Pehlwan 2022". NDTV.
  23. ↑ Alter, Joseph S. (3 August 1992). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-91217-5.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Alter, Joseph S. (1992). The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0520912175.
  25. ↑ Svinth, Joseph (2003). Martial Arts in the Modern World. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98153-2.
  26. ↑ "Why the Great Gama is counted among the greatest wrestlers of all time". trtworld.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "The 'John Bull' Wrestling belt won by an Indian". The Derby Daily Telegraph. 17 September 1910.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Derby Daily Telegraph". Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  29. ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (July 2012). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1-61321-075-8.
  30. ↑ A problem to wrestle with. The Indian Express. p. 23.
  31. ↑ "World Wrestling Championship: Indian's Victory Over Pole". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertise. 14 February 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  32. ↑ Kundu, Sagnik (23 December 2016). "The Great Gama – The pehelwan who refused to lose". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  33. ↑ "World Wrestling Championship: Gama Beats Zbyszko". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 3 March 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "The Great Gama Pahelwan | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
  35. ↑ "Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots". 16 May 2017.
  36. ↑ Jajja, Sumaira (2 April 2017). "WRESTLING: The Warrior's Soul". Dawn. Pakistan.
  37. ↑ "Ghulam Muhammad".
  38. ↑ Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. 2003. ISBN 978-0786417544.
  39. ↑ Little, John, Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58
  40. ↑ "The Tribune – Windows – Featured story". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle". 9to5Google. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday". 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  43. ↑ "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". IPWHF.
  44. ↑ Johnson, Steve (14 July 2007). "Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  45. ↑ Oliver, Greg (26 November 2014). "Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

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